President Donald Trump issued a sweeping military ultimatum early Thursday morning, declaring that the full force of the United States military will remain stationed around Iran until the terms of a new agreement are finalized.
In a series of statements posted to Truth Social, the President confirmed that all U.S. ships, aircraft, and personnel—along with a fresh influx of ammunition and weaponry—are staying put to ensure the “lethal prosecution and destruction” of an enemy he described as “already substantially degraded.”
The President’s blunt warning sets a volatile backdrop for Vice President JD Vance, who is traveling to Islamabad this weekend for high-stakes talks with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
While Trump expressed confidence that a deal would be honored, he warned of massive escalation if Tehran fails to comply. “If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” Trump wrote.
According to the President, the core pillars of the “Real Agreement” include a total ban on nuclear weapons and a guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz remains “open and safe.”
READ: High-Stakes Islamabad Summit: Vance To Face Iran As Ceasefire Teeters
He dismissed conflicting reports as “fake rhetoric,” suggesting terms have been established for some time. Trump noted that U.S. troops are currently “loading up and resting” while “looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest,” ending his announcement with “AMERICA IS BACK!”
The White House has yet to provide a specific timeline for this agreement or the exact coordinates of redirected military assets. This pressure comes just as Vance attempts to manage what he has called a “fragile truce.”
The two-week ceasefire, which Vance helped finalize earlier this week, is already under immense strain. Ghalibaf has accused the U.S. of violations, and despite the President’s demands, the Strait of Hormuz appeared to remain closed as U.S. Gulf allies intercepted a series of Iranian attacks.
Domestic political and economic hurdles further complicate the mission. Congressional Democrats argue that any deal involving Iran’s nuclear program must be submitted for a vote under the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. A Democratic aide noted the law “imposes restrictions on the president’s ability to lift or waive sanctions while Congress reviews any such agreement.”
Meanwhile, Wall Street is bracing for fresh inflation data. While the Commerce Department is expected to show elevated inflation for February, the Labor Department is projected to report a spike from 2.4% to 3.3% driven by “sharply higher” energy costs.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told Fox Business that the spike could be a “one-time thing” if things return to normal quickly. However, Federal Reserve minutes suggest that if the conflict is resolved too fast, the central bank may no longer see the need for the interest rate cuts many investors had anticipated.
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